The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic

At the start of this chapter, Narayan introduces the idea of Rama as an imperfect being, one who shoots at and destroys an innocent. In this chapter, which is one of the most “controversial” in the entire epic, Narayan explains that four characters interact in the region of Kiskinda, which is a monkey kingdom. These four characters are Vali, Sugreeva, Hanuman, and Rama.

In search of Sita, Rama and Lakshmana enter the monkey kingdom of Kiskinda. Hanuman is the giant monkey who helps Sugreeva, and he observes Rama and Lakshmana cross into Kiskinda. Hanuman takes the form of a young scholar to watch them more closely. Hanuman approaches Rama and Lakshmana, admiring their noble appearance despite the tree bark clothing, and he welcomes them on behalf of Sugreeva. Lakshmana introduces them as the sons of Dasaratha of Ayodhya, and when Hanuman hears their story, he throws himself at the feet of Rama and returns to his original form. Hanuman goes to find Sugreeva, and when Rama meets the monkey, he is overcome with sympathy for Sugreeva, who, like Rama, has also been exiled and has lost his wife.